The Brimstone fire is in its last stages! Merlin OR- More accurate mapping now estimates the Brimstone fire size to be 2,372 acres, including three small fires in the vicinity: McNab, Tom East and Malone. The fires, which were first detected July 29, are now 80 percent contained. Today is a transition day for Brimstone, meaning that the Type 2 Team led by Incident Commander Chris Cline will be turning the fire over to a local Type 3 Team. The new team and the fire will be under the management of the Grants Pass Unit of the Oregon Department of Forestry. Most of the fireline has been mopped up 300 feet to the inside, and this work will continue today. Crews are continually challenged by the hazards of the steep slopes, rolling rocks and hot stump holes, but there has been only one minor injury on the fire through Sunday. The Brimstone Public Information Officers hosted a community meeting last night in Merlin and were joined by approximately 300 local residents and cooperators. Fire officials presented current information on the Brimstone, Douglas Complex, Big Windy Complex and Labrador fires. The audience also heard pertinent information from Josephine County Public Health Director Diane Hoover, Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson and Josephine County Commissioner Keith Heck. ODF Team 3 Safety Officer Kellie Carlsen spoke to the audience about the remaining hazards in the Brimstone fire area, which will continue to be hazards to the general public when the fire is out and the teams are gone. Those hazards include rolling rocks, burned out stump holes and unstable hazard trees. The public is urged to watch for these hazards when the area is opened to travel again. Incident Management Team 3 would like to thank the cooperators and residents in the Brimstone area for their support and encouragement. This will be the last news release from the Brimstone fire unless conditions change. Incident Commander Chris Cline says, “It’s been a privilege and an honor to serve this community in its time of need.”
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 20:53:34 +0000
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